Lakota Dawn

by Janelle Taylor

  Chase and Macha noticed that none brandished a weapon, and they were not encircled or threatened in any manner. In fact, the men’s expressions implied friendliness, as if they were glad to see them, and not only because they had the boy with them…Yet, neither wanted to discard their wariness or trust their unproved perceptions too soon.

  As Tokapa squealed with delight at seeing his father and other uncle, Chase said, “He is safe and returned to you, my brother.” He lifted the boy and passed him to Wind Dancer whose eyes, Chase noted, were shiny with moisture and tenderness. Chase watched him hug his son and kiss his forehead, then close his eyes as if saying a silent prayer of gratitude to the Creator.

  Wind Dancer looked at him and coaxed, “Speak, my brother, of how you came to rescue him from our cunning enemies.”

  Chase revealed his confrontation with two Pawnee and Macha’s with a third man before she fled to safety with the child. He saw the men’s gazes travel to her bruised throat. All looked angry enough to kill. Afterward, he divulged, “I did not take their possessions or scalplocks to bring to you.” He explained his deception, and saw Wind Dancer nod in concurrence with his precautions. “How did Tokapa come to be with them?” Chase wondered. “Was our camp attacked by a larger band?”

  Macha nodded and smiled to her brother who was watching them with curiosity, awe, and what she knew from experience was great pride. Yet, she did not interrupt the serious talk by speaking to River’s Edge, though she was anxious to hear news of their parents.

  Wind Dancer cuddled his son as he related, “Grandmother was tending him while I hunted on the grasslands and Dewdrops skinned and cut up buffalo to be hauled to camp. We had left camp only a short time before he was stolen soon after the sun rose. Grandmother was struck on the head and hidden in bushes. It was almost dark before we found her.”

  “Does Little Turtle live?” Macha could not help but ask.

  “Yes, but she was injured badly from the Pawnee’s strike and appeared to be lost to us; that is why the Pawnee did not slide his knife into her heart or across her throat. We waited until the sun returned to pursue them, for we could not see their tracks in the darkness and they sought to hide them from us. Surely the Great Spirit guided you to their path to save my son.”

  “That is what I believe,” Chase concurred. “When we sighted them before they saw us, we were returning to camp to tell Father and our people of all we experienced and learned,” he reminded them.

  “Where did you go, my brother?” War Eagle asked. “Why did you sneak away? Why did you bind our cousin’s hands and mouth? Did Dawn go with you because she is the dreamvision woman our sister revealed to us?”

  After Chase answered the first two questions in full detail, he said, “The treaty words do not say what the White hunters told us, but the words of the Crow to Wind Dancer are true. It is a foolish and dangerous demand on the White leaders’ part to force enemy tribes to share the hunting and crossing of their territories, and all chiefs must seek to have it changed. If all speak against it and say it imperils peace, perhaps they will listen and change it, for war between tribes will also imperil Whites.”

  Chase saw them nod agreement but look skeptical of Army compliance before he disclosed news of the second treaty last year with southern tribes, as the Pawnee—also the Kiowa and Comanche—had refused to attend the 1851 Long Meadows peace council with their longtime and fierce enemies, the Lakotas and Cheyenne. “The Pawnee broke their treaty promise not to raid others; if we report them to the soldiers, they will be punished, or perhaps only warned not to do so again. I have learned more Bluecoats will come to the forts at Laramie and Kearny before the cold season, for some Lakota bands stir up trouble in that area. That is not a good sign, so our people must stay prepared for self-defense.”

  “Do the Bluecoats plan to attack all tribes?”

  “I do not know, Swift Otter, but signs pointing to a battle on the suns ahead are bad. Our warriors must be ready to fight when it rises, but we must not provoke conflict before its time.” He reached out and grasped Macha’s hand, smiled at her, and finished with, “Dawn rode with me, for much love lives in our hearts and minds for each other and we wished to be joined.” Assuming a clever Hanmani had disclosed the full dream to them, he repeated its contents and said, “I could not leave her behind while I did as the Great Spirit commanded me, for Two Feathers desired her and was to seek her hand in joining on the next sun. The Great Spirit guided us toward each other and crossed our Life-Circles. Following the Lakota custom, we left camp in secret, bonded ourselves in the forest beneath His gaze, and now return to reveal our union to our people. She is my wife in all ways.”

  “That is good, my brother,” Wind Dancer said, “for Dawn was chosen for you by Wakantanka as Dewdrops was chosen for me. The Creator guides you to do great things for our people as He once guided me and my wife.”

  Considering his past treatment, Chase was delighted, though baffled, by their warm reception. “Thank you for your kind words, my brother. Do I return to camp to speak with our people or do we part here forever?”

  Wind Dancer told Chase and Macha what had been said after their stealthy departure, which greatly pleased the couple. “That is why we did not come after you. There will be no punishments.”

  “I am accepted back into our band?” he asked for clarification. “I am Red Shield again?”

  Wind Dancer smiled. “That is true, Cloud Chaser. We are shamed for doubting you, for testing you, for rejecting you after your return to us. Father accepts you as his son and awaits your return, for he was certain it would be soon. I am proud and happy to call you brother, friend, and Red Shield. We are family.”

  Chase looked at Macha, and they exchanged smiles. “My heart swells with joy and love to be family and Red Shield again. It is good.”

  “It is good,” War Eagle echoed, a broad smile on his face.

  Red Feather and Swift Otter grinned and nodded agreement.

  “My heart beats with great love and pride, my sister,” River’s Edge said, “for your brave deeds and return; your family is much honored by them.” He looked at Chase, extended his arm, and said as Wind Dancer had done, “I am proud to call you brother, friend, and Red Shield.”

  Chase grasped wrists with him, smiled, and nodded.

  As Tokapa squirmed and made it known he was hungry, the others laughed in amusement and harmony.

  Wind Dancer suggested they dismount and consume their food quickly before heading home. “We must ride fast, for Dewdrops fears for our son’s survival, and I must end her suffering soon. Our camp is in another place, near this river, far ahead, for that is where the great herd roams.”

  As the party of eight rode into camp, their people—who had been alerted by scouts to their approach—ceased their chores, crowded around their horses, and rejoiced at the safe return of Wind Dancer’s child, son of their next chief, grandson of their current chief, and the future leader himself of the Red Shields. Whoops of elation and shouts of victory over their foes filled the summer air. Though all were eager to hear why Cloud Chaser and Dawn were with the warriors, almost all present focused on the heady triumph.

  Chumani took her child in her arms, hugged him, and kissed him as she smiled and laughed with happiness. The boy squealed with gladness to see his mother again. Chumani half turned him in her embrace so Winona and Little Turtle—whose bandaged head bore witness to her recent attack—could stroke his cheek and hair and kiss his forehead. “You have saved our son from the torment, sadness, and shame of captivity to our enemies, and spared his family and people of his loss,” she said to her husband. “I have great love and pride for you.”

  “I did not do so, Dewdrops,” Wind Dancer refuted in a gentle tone. “Your words are for another. Hear me, my family and people,” he said in a loud voice. “Our son was rescued by my brother Cloud Chaser and his wife Dawn; they fought and slayed the three Pawnee who injured Grandmother and stole Tokapa. They risked their lives and freedom to save
him and return him to us. While they were gone from our camp, they did many brave deeds for us and they joined in the sight of the Great Spirit and return to us as mates. I will honor my brother with the gift of two horses and two buffalo hides. War Eagle does so with the gift of a new bow, quiver, and arrows.”

  As that news settled in, Winona smiled at Chase before she announced, “Our women must prepare a tepee for them and place it near his father’s. We will do so on the next sun. On this moon, Cloud Chaser and Dawn will eat and rest with us.” She rubbed the back of Chase’s right hand and said, “I thank you for the life of my grandson,” then did the same with Macha.

  Before they dismounted, the couple smiled at her for that display of sentiment and acceptance and for her kind words and invitation.

  While still on horseback where he could be seen and heard better, River’s Edge proclaimed, “I will give Cloud Chaser leggings and moccasins to go with the shirt he now wears as a gift to him long ago from my family for saving my life from the badger attack. He is now my brother and friend.”

  Ohute and Leaning Tree worked their way to the front of the crowd to embrace their daughter and to welcome Cloud Chaser, their chief’s son and future chief’s brother, into their family. Ohute touched the marks on Macha’s neck in alarm.

  “The Pawnee’s injuries will heal, Mother, so do not worry over them. I am sorry I could not tell you of our departure, but we had to obey the Great Spirit’s command to us, for it was given in a sacred dream.”

  “Do not worry, my daughter, for your union is a good one.”

  Macha embraced her mother again and sighed with relief.

  “I have no gifts to give Root and Leaning Tree for their daughter’s hand in joining,” Chase told Macha’s parents, “but I will do so before the cold season comes. I will hunt and supply hides and meat for your tepee.”

  “The gifts of Tokapa and our daughter’s return to us are enough to fill that duty,” her father said. “We will share you with Rising Bear as a son.”

  “I thank you, Leaning Tree, and I will seek to be a good one.”

  Nahemana stepped forward and locked their gazes. “It is good you have returned, Cloud Chaser, for it is the will of the Great Spirit.”

  “Thank you, Grandfather; that is what I believe and seek to honor.”

  Little Turtle removed a wanapin from her neck and placed it around Chase’s. “You have brought joy and honor back to me and our people, for I failed to protect Tokapa from great danger and suffering.”

  “You must not feel shame, Grandmother, for being used by the Great Spirit for the good of our people,” Chase said after thanking her, “for He controlled our deeds on past suns. You must be proud you served His purpose, for often He leads us down mysterious and dangerous paths. Your mark reveals the sacrifice you made to fulfill His plan.” He lifted and looked at the necklace: it was an arrowhead made of sacred redstone with the sign for love etched on its surface, suspended on a thong with pipe beads. As many other Red Shields touched his hand or clasped his wrist or spoke words of gratitude for the rescue and praised his prowess—from the corners of his eyes, Chase saw Two Feathers staring and sulking not far away. He didn’t want this long-awaited moment to be spoiled, so he dismissed his acrimonious cousin from his thoughts and sight.

  “I must speak alone with my three sons,” Rising Bear announced. “We will have a feast this moon to honor his return and chant his coups.”

  “My friends will speak to our warriors and reveal my brother’s deeds and what he has learned while gone from us,” Wind Dancer added.

  Red Feather, River’s Edge, and Swift Otter summoned the men to another location to relate Chase’s exploits and discoveries. An eager and proud Broken Lance hurried behind the group to listen to his cousin’s feats. Even Two Feathers tagged along to see what he could learn.

  Chumani went to her tepee to share special moments with her son. Red Feather’s wife, Zitkala, joined her. Zitkala knew her best friend needed comfort and assistance, as Chumani had slept and eaten little since her child’s abduction. She carried along her daughter Cikala, of the same age, to play with Tokapa while Chumani shared her emotions to one she knew listened with a loving attentiveness.

  As Winona and Ohute gathered with other women to talk about the stirring events and to make plans for the couple’s new dwelling, Macha and Hanmani slipped away to Leaning Tree’s tepee to share their news.

  As Chase sat down with his father and brothers, this time in closer proximity, he was aware of how different this meeting was than the last two. He couldn’t help but hope he had finally achieved his initial goal for returning. Yet, he pondered then how such changes would affect his and his wife’s future…

  Chapter

  Twelve

  Chase’s heart thudded as he listened to his father’s words.

  “I have been wrong and cruel to you, my second son, long ago and since your return. When you were born, I was ashamed for mating with your mother, for it was not right to do so. Omaste was obedient and trusted me. She loved me, my family, and my people. In my heart, I believed my beloved Winona was not lost to me forever, and I felt I had betrayed her by taking another woman to the mat I had shared with her and she would return to one day with the Great Spirit’s help. But in a moment of anguish, doubt, and weakness, I turned to her for comfort, and she gave it to me. I was ashamed I abused Omaste’s love, trust, and obedience. I wished I could free her, but a chief does not give away a gift from another chief and ally, and Omaste had no family or home in another place. She was happy living among us and was not mistreated except for that one time, though she said I was gentle with her. After I lay with Omaste, I purified myself in the sweat lodge, made sacrifices to Wakantanka at Mato Sapa, and prayed for His forgiveness. Your mother forgave me, for she was happy to bear a son, to have her own child. Winona forgave me upon her return, for she understood my anguish and one weakness. But I never forgave myself and never asked you to forgive me. Each time I gazed upon you, I was reminded of my wicked deed. I feared I would be shamed before my people if I treated you as I did my other children, for you were not born of a mated pair whose union was blessed by the Great Spirit.”

  Rising Bear paused in his painful confession to take a few deep breaths to calm himself. “When Omaste was taken from us by death, I thought it was the Great Spirit’s way of removing a stain against my honor. When you were lost to me and I could not find you, for I searched for many suns and moons and suffered much, the same thought entered my head. Both were wrong; both were only misguided ways of dealing with my two losses and my shame. When you returned, I feared to believe you were my lost son; I feared trouble would come if your heart and purpose were not good; I feared it would remind my people of my past weakness and if I accepted a half-White man among us during such grave times, it would cause conflict between me and my people. I ask you to understand my confusion and to forgive me for causing you to suffer. There is much love and pride in me for you, Cloud Chaser, and gratitude for saving Tokapa. I believe the Creator gave you to me long ago, took you away, and returned you this season. Stay with us, my second son, and be a Red Shield as you were born. I will never turn my eyes or heart from you again; this I swear on my life.”

  Before Chase could speak, Wind Dancer and War Eagle told him of the things which had filled their hearts since his return; they, too, asked for understanding and forgiveness.

  Chase smiled. “The Great Spirit often works in strange ways. We do not know His purpose for such deeds, but He plans and guides them. I love you, my father and brothers, and there is peace among us. We will store the troubled past in a ghost pouch and never open it again. All is good between us now, and we must seek to help our people together.”

  “It is good.” All three said the agreement vow simultaneously.

  “Tell me all you have seen and done since you left our other camp and rode into the white man’s world,” Rising Bear coaxed.

  Two hours passed as Chase complied while their
family, closest friends, and people prepared for the impending celebration.

  During the feast, Chase was positioned on a buffalo hide mat beside his father, with Macha sitting on his other side. Nearby were the rest of his family and hers, all in places of honor for this special occasion. The happy couple watched their brothers dance around a center campfire while singing and chanting the coups they had earned during their absence, their agile movements made to the accompaniment of a kettle drum and eight drum beaters.

  Earlier, they had eaten food served to them by their people, who also were filled with joy, excitement, and appreciation for those cunning and brave deeds. After the sun had set, small ones with full stomachs and heavy lids had been lain on sleeping mats in their dwellings, to be watched by older siblings or grandmothers or mothers. The White River encampment was being guarded by braves who were posted around its fringes to prevent a surprise attack during the band’s merry distraction, though they wished they could participate in or witness the splendid celebration.

  A near-full moon had risen during the entertainment; it, along with the huge fire, brightened the area. The evening breeze was warm and steady, with the scents of grass and wildflowers and smoke traveling across the land with it. The roaring flames before them also seemed to dance with glee; the wood crackled and popped and sent an occasional and brief burst of colorful sparks into the night air. The drumming continued. People talked and laughed in low voices. Some nodded their heads or moved their torsos in time to the kettle drum’s beat.

  A proud and beaming Hanmani watched older girls and unattached young women eye her three handsome brothers, especially the remaining single one—War Eagle. She was thrilled for Macha and her half-brother, and felt they were well matched. She did not know how that union would alter her close relationship with her friend, but she was not worried. With her best friend now joined and so happy, she was eager for a romance of her own, but she was only sixteen and no one had captured her heart and eye, at least not from her band, or even from her tribe.